Ex-President Mahama spent GHS4m on Gh@59 march past alone – Commey

A member of the Ghana@60 anniversary planning committee, Mr. Lord Commey has dismissed some comments that the budget for Ghana’s 60 anniversary celebration is very huge, revealing that Ghana’s 59th anniversary parade alone under Ex-President Mahama cost GHS4million.

According to Mr. Lord Commey, the GHS20m allocated to the celebration by President Akufo-Addo for this year’s anniversary is not only for one day event but rather for activities spanning the whole year.

Comparing Ghana’s Golden Jubilee with upcoming 60 anniversary, Mr. Commey, said:

“10 years ago, what I know is that over US$75m was spent on Ghana@50. Under Nana Akufo Addo’s government, 10 years on, US$4m, so strike the difference and the balance. We have the mandate to be modest and also elegant.”

“When I checked the 59th anniversary celebrations budget of the march past alone at the Independence Square, it was close to GHS4million (approximately US$ 890, 000) and the records are there.”

He added that numerous of the activities that will be undertaken during the 60th anniversary are being sponsored by private entities in collaboration with the committee.

“At the end of the exercise, Ghanaians will be proud of it. … Apart from the first phase, the other programmes are private people’s initiatives and what they are asking from the committee is some support, for example the Musicians Union of Ghana, (MUSIGA). If you talk to Obuor and co., this is MUSIGA putting things together and they want to be associated with Ghana@60 and we are giving them the support – they have their own sponsorship,” he disclosed.

Mr. Lord Commey assured that the committee would render an account to Ghanaians “because transparency is key, proper accountability is also very key”, adding: “The president has cautioned everybody…we just need support from the Ghanaian people.”